Innovation Fuels Inc. was recognized at the annual Syracuse Economic Champions banquet and awards ceremony on Wednesday, Oct. 21. The Chamber of Commerce recognizes businesses that have added employees, expanded their space or relocated due to growth. "It's recognition that it's really small business that are driving the local economy," said John Fox, CEO of Innovation Fuels.READ MORE

Agave, a plant of a large botanical genus grown mainly in Mexico, is the missing energy crop, according to researchers participating in the Agave Project, and could be revolutionary for the biofuels and bioproducts industries. The plant is used to produce liquors such as tequila, mescal and sotol, along with cords and ropes mainly for handcrafts. But its potential has largely been untapped, according to researchers. One hectare of the plant annually produces more than 500 metric tons of biomass, yielding three times more sugars than sugarcane, four times more cellulose than the fastest-growing eucalyptus, and five times more dry biomass than the genetically modified poplar tree.READ MORE

Four Indiana prisons will be powered partially by biomass by the end of the year, as part of an Indiana Department of Correction green initiative. Biomass boilers are being installed at the facilities, constituting four separate projects from contracts with Johnson Controls Inc. Two of the projects involve completely replacing the natural gas boiler tank, replacing the stoker/grate, retrofitting the refractory and adding a new fuel storage and delivery system to handle the biomass. The other two will retrofit existing natural gas boiler systems to burn biomass and take the same remaining steps as the other projects.READ MORE

Upper Midwest/Northwest power utility NorthWestern Energy, the Montana Community Development Corp, and eight saw mills across Montana will play key roles in developing a community-based biomass power program. The project is being funded with a $125,000 grant from Montana Department of Commerce and a $50,000 grant from the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities.READ MORE

Growth Design Corp. unveiled plans to build a biodiesel plant across the street from its conference center in Forest City, Iowa, at an Oct. 18 open house. The firm is applying for a USDA grant to help fund the project and expects to break ground on the facility late this fall. Growth Design intends to install two Mcgyan reactors, capable of producing 2 MMgy to 3 MMgy each, with fittings installed for a third reactor to be installed in the future.READ MORE

A 50-megawatt biomass power plant at Billingham Reach Industrial Estates in the Tees Valley, Northeast England, will supply up to 80,000 homes with electricity annually, once fully operational in 2012. Other biomass projects are in development in the area, including a 295 megawatt plant operated by MGT Power, slated to go on line at Teesport in 2012. Gaia Power Limited, based in Yarm, Tees Valley, received planning permission for its 50 megawatt plant from the Stockton Borough Council Planning Committee and now will begin working to secure the financing package.READ MORE

Ontario, Canada-based StormFisher Biogas has sealed a deal with grocery retailer Loblaw Companies Ltd. for the annual supply of 15,000 metric tons of organic waste to fuel its $15 million biogas plant in London, Ontario. The agreement with Loblaw, a subsidiary of Canadian food distributor giant George Weston Ltd., denotes StormFisher's biggest deal since last year's announcement of plans to construct up to 30 anaerobic digestion plants across North America over the next five years. The plants will be funded by $350 million from private equity company Denham Capital Management, and range from 2.8 to 5 megawatts.READ MORE